TB_11

7/10 with a couple of guesses.

I don't think it's so much as Pierre vs "who else we have who plays center" as much as Pierre vs "What we'd have to give up to get him." I just can't see Florida for anything small to get him. As far as Linear Weights, Bill Feelber has a book out now called The Book on the Book where he uses Linear Weights to do a lot of his analysis. I'm halfway through it, and it's not a bad read if you want to pick it up.

Remember that Alou put up some sub-par numbers prior to his contract year. Unless he was OK with doing a series of one-year, incentive-laced contracts, I'm happy to see him out playing somewhere else.

Remember Lee is the guy who didn't go for the cycle when he had the opportunity to. He seems like a classy enough guy and enough of a team player that he would enjoy the competition. By, the way, are there any 2 big bats on the same team better this year than Derrek and Aramis? All of the ones I could think of off the top of my head fall short after looking at their stats: Roberts/Tejada don't have the OBP or slugging, neither do Pujols/Edmonds. Same is true for Rodriguez/Sheffield and Ramirez/Ortiz.

why? they're both young, toolsy, raw cf'ers who lack plate discipline and will both be rushed to the majors and yanked around in the batting order. it's actually a pretty good comparison, and you'd think the cubs would have learned from the mistakes they made w/ patterson. What mistakes? Pie has played almost a whole year at each level up through AA so far...and succeeded at each level. Comparing his rise through the minors and Pattersons is not really accurate at all. The Cubs could bring up Pie to end this season and I wouldn't feel like he was being rushed at all. Patterson was brought up after only having real good success at low A and skipping levels. Way different. He's 20 years old, and many scouting reports call his skills 'raw.' People will say that Andruw Jones and Ken Griffey Jr and Miguel Cabrera made it up to the big leagues at an equally young age, but that doesn't mean that Pie is ready. I don't see any reason why he should be in the majors this year that would be beneficial to his development. Additionally, for every Phil Rogers or any other article that comes out about Pie, my fear is that our expectations of Pie become heightened. Again, he's 20. Let's give Pie a chance to develop, a chance to polish his skills.

Couldn't have said it better. He's a sports radio personality who gets paid to write.

Jeromy's career OBP is nearly a hundred points higher than his career AVG. The guy has always been patient. Agreed - we just hadn't seen it as much this year. Hopefully he keeps it up.

9 already this month? His OBP for June prior to today's game was .419 - off of a .286 average. How about that game against Atlanta when he walked three times? Does anyone know where this patience came from?

I'm assuming we can add players when they were in their prime, so here's mine: - Starting player: 2001 Sosa. Duh. (He's not in the HOF yet) - Bench player: 1998 Gary Gaetti (With Aramis at 3rd, Gary's riding the pine) - Starting pitcher: 1984 Rick Sutcliffe

2001 was Sosa's best year. Period. McGwire was the better hitter in 1998 - his OBP and SLG were each 80 points higher than Sammy's that year. Sammy's completeness as a player often rested on his speed - that year he was successful on 67% of his SB attempts (18 of 27). The debate over who was the MVP is a fair one, but the debate over who was the better player should start and end with McGwire. I'm not sure that is the case. In 1998, McGwire led Sosa by four homeruns, and out slugged him by 100 points. Sosa had more RBI and a higher batting average. In 98, Sosa was a better base runner and better defender. It was close. If you're talking better career player... :-k McGwire has a career 263 BA compared to Sosa's 277. McGwire has a career 394 OBP compared to Sosa's 348. McGwire has a career 588 SLG compared to Sosa's 545. McGwire has 583 HR's compared to Sosa's 574. McGwire showed more power throughout his career, but if you use a grouping of five best seasons, Sosa looks a little better. McGwire was a decent fielder, while Sosa showed athleticism but had flaws. Sosa was a better base runner, especially earlier in his career. I don't think either one is clearly a better player than the other. From Baseball Reference: OBP SLG OPS OPS+ RC RC/27 McGwire .470 .752 1.222 217 179 13.10 Sosa .377 .647 1.024 160 157 8.85 In 1998, McGwire's ability to get on base and better slugging overmatch Sosa's baserunning, IMHO. Their defenses are a wash - both were average defenders in 1998. Again, Sosa might have been more deserving of the MVP, but the better player in my opinion was McGwire.

2001 was Sosa's best year. Period. McGwire was the better hitter in 1998 - his OBP and SLG were each 80 points higher than Sammy's that year. Sammy's completeness as a player often rested on his speed - that year he was successful on 67% of his SB attempts (18 of 27). The debate over who was the MVP is a fair one, but the debate over who was the better player should start and end with McGwire.

Wasn't that when he said that he was 10-0 in All Star Games, and that the NL would have won had he been playing? Then Reggie said something like, "Joe, you get to be on the air all season long. I get one moment to talk and you butt in." He made it seem like he was joking, but clearly Reggie was telling Morgan to STFU on national television. Just saying what we all think

Just so you know, Pie probably won't be a leadoff hitter when he is in the majors. At least he shouldn't be one. are there really rumors that they want to bring Pie up? why not, afterall, the last time they rushed a blue chip centerfielder to the majors it worked out great. They had planned on bringing Pie up before he got hurt, which is why Greenberg was called up instead. Expect Pie to be playing in Wrigley fairly soon. :x

Did he have the same batting stance? Back leg on his toe, front leg held straight, hands almost behind his head.......

I was aware the avg was .300 for the NL, but is it really the same for the AL? Also, the source is Baseball Prospectus. Thought so - I had the subscription last year when I was in school and had more time to be a stat geek. Now work occupies all my time. Boo-urns.

Great stuff - what's the source for these numbers?

Exactly. I know I have some massive man-love for Nomar, but I couldn't bear to part with him. I don't think i've ever been that excited about a Cubs transaction in my life. And what a birthday present, too. He made his Cubs debut on August 1st. I got to kick back with all my presents and watch Nomar in his Cubs debut and Maddux gunning for 300. Damn Cubs have an off day on my birthday this year. Grrrr. But getting back on topic, re-sign Nomar, as he'll probably get the best deal from us, and he'll sign another cheapie, have Cedeno as the backup to him, and re-sign Walker. If Hairston can hack it in the OF, he'll start in center, Murton in left, and possibly Pie in right? Or, if you like, Murton in right, Pie in Center, and Hairston in left. The lineup of... Hairston Nomar Lee Ramirez Pie Murton Walker Barrett is a pretty damned good lineup. Not a bad team, there. I doubt Hairston will be back next year, and please oh please let's not have Pie playing for us next year. His skills still need massive polishing. Nomar's defense will a key issue for next year - it looked like he got back a lot of the mobility he lost in 2004, hopefully that will be the case in 2006.

I'd imagine Nomar stays with us next year, signing another one-year deal to line him up for a free-agent signing in the ensuing off-season. I'd be happy having him for a year - an infield of Lee, Ramirez, Nomar, and fill-in-the-blank at second would be formidable, even if Nomar puts up a mediocre for him .280-20-80.

Cox and Dusty apparently use the same logic in different circumstances. Cox uses it to give his young guys a chance to perform, Dusty uses it as an excuse to keep playing Neifi and cement Cedeno to the bench.

Those guys should be seen as outliers. For every Cabrera or Andruw Jones that makes an impression so quickly, theres numerous others who would be better served polishing up their games in the minors. That said, I am wholly 100% against the idea of sending off Hairston and bringing up Pie as a solution for this year. If we are bringing up Pie just as a test to see what he can do, fine. But if management expects him to contribute as an everyday player, they should think about giving him more time to develop.

Corey's ineffectiveness is primarily Corey's problem. If he needed management to teach him how to not be such a poor hitter, he doesn't deserve to be in the majors.

It's a great article, but I wish the reporter would have left him alone. Bartman's been through enough.

Around the Horn stated that LaRussa has said he wants to start Carpenter over Willis and Clemens. Take it for what it's worth.

::Points to sig::

TB_11 I cannot understand how this team just dies. It shows no life. I honestly haven't read or seen anything that would indicte a change in attitude. If I did I would tell you (see the May 16 posting). It all starts with starting pitching and our starts are not giving quality starts at all. Prior should have gone down to the minors and pitched but he refused and is getting eaten up! Our offense has not been seen. Our pen is exposed because our starters have been pitching BP. Our defense ins't helping. This team is failing ever aspect of baseball and that is the coaching period. I don't see a bright spot on this team. The only spark I saw was Neifi arguing a play that wasn't even close. But remember one thing. This team is not done ripping our hearts out. They will go on a run and everything will be rosey once more before the season is over I promise. I just don't see how they would be able to sustain a playoff run currently. They should feel no pressure right now at all. My advice. Get back to baseball basics with these guys and maybe we have a chance. If not then get Dusty out of there. The players are not responding to him at all. I'm out in New York without WGN, and work long hours, so I don't get a chance to watch many games. From everything I've read though they've become listless out in the field, and the one guy who can carry them is out with a bum shoulder. From what I've read and seen, I'm with you Scott, this losing streak has made me lose just about all hope. It's funny - I always thought this team lived and died with its starting pitching. Prior goes down, and the team puts together a nice run. We get Prior and Kerry back for an eight game losing streak.